Turkey commits troops to war on terrorism

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) --Turkish soldiers will soon join a growing international contingent of troops in Afghanistan involved in the U.S.-led war on terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom, Turkish military sources said Thursday.

Initially, 12 soldiers will be sent in an observational role, and a total deployment of 261 troops is expected by the end of January. The commitment of forces by the Turks is being called open-ended.

The Turkish soldiers will join British and French forces already deployed in Afghanistan. Earlier this week, the Canadian minister of national defense announced the commitment of about 750 soldiers to the coalition campaign against terrorism and said they will be deployed in Kandahar.